For the third year running, Solopress was proud to support Dave Day, the nationwide motorcycle ride held in memory of Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers. Branded The Last Ride Home, this year’s event marked the final large-scale ride from London’s Ace Café to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, bringing together more than 40,000 motorcycles in tribute to a man whose warmth, humour and enthusiasm for life inspired an extraordinary community.
Looking back on an unforgettable weekend
For organiser Adelle Hutton, the scale of the achievement only became clear once the weekend was over.
“It’s only when you finally get home, sit down, and let everything sink in that you truly appreciate what you’ve just experienced. Then almost immediately, you find yourself wishing you could do it all again.”
More than 40,250 motorcycles completed the journey into Barrow safely, with no reported incidents, thanks to months of planning by organisers and the support of Barrow BID, the organisation that helps coordinate and promote the town centre, alongside emergency services, volunteers and sponsors.
Among the many memorable moments were thousands of motorcycles arriving together in Barrow, the Dave Myer’s Memorial Trophy football match featuring former professional footballers, live music and countless personal acts of generosity.
One moment stood out in particular.
“Watching Rickie Lambert hand his England boots to a cheeky young lad at the football match was genuinely heartwarming and summed up the spirit of the weekend.”
For Adelle, however, it was the quiet ending that will stay with her longest.
“Sunday morning, waving everyone off on their journey home. The crowds had gone, the noise had faded, and it was just me and Lili left standing there. After months of planning, stress, excitement and emotion, it suddenly felt very quiet. It was the perfect ending, but also a reminder that another incredible chapter had come to a close.”
A passport that keeps the journey going
One of the biggest additions to Dave Day 2026 was Dave’s Passport, a printed keepsake designed to extend the spirit of the event long after the final riders returned home.
While planning this year’s event, the organisers were looking for new ways to raise money for Dave Day’s chosen charities without introducing registration fees. At around the same time, permission was granted for Dave’s permanent memorial to be installed at All Saints Church in Rangemore. Because the memorial’s bespoke design fell outside the churchyard’s standard regulations, approval through the Consistory Court had taken many months. Once the decision was made, the two ideas came together naturally.
“Dave always wanted people to visit him, so everything seemed to fall into place. We realised we could create a destination, a pilgrimage to Dave, with places to stop and enjoy along the way.”
The passport encourages Dave’s Disciples, as he affectionately called his fans, to set out from wherever they live, collecting stamps at participating venues before visiting his memorial and continuing the food and drink journey that he loved so much.
“Dave’s Disciples can now set off from wherever they live, collect passport stamps as they travel, pay their respects to Dave, and continue the food and drink journey that he loved so much. There are similar passport schemes around the UK and overseas, but this one is uniquely about celebrating Dave’s life, his love of travel, great food and bringing people together.”
With only six weeks before the event, there was little time to turn the idea into reality. Participating venues had to be recruited, sponsors secured, the passport designed and thousands of copies printed.
Working from Adelle’s ideas and photographs, Solopress designer Matt Bruty transformed the concept into a finished design in around a week, allowing the passports to be printed and ready in time for Dave Day.
“It was another example of people going above and beyond because they believed in what Dave Day is all about.”
Print that helped bring Dave Day together
Alongside Dave’s Passport, Solopress produced a wide range of printed materials to support the weekend, including football programmes, vinyl banners, certificates and leaflets.
The aim was the same as in previous years: to give Dave Day a consistent visual identity across multiple venues while helping organisers communicate with participants and visitors.
For Adelle, the partnership has become an important part of the event.
“Working with Solopress is honestly a pleasure. Dave Day doesn’t happen during office hours. It’s evenings, weekends and every spare moment around our normal jobs. No matter how organised we try to be, printing always seems to become a last-minute rush. Yet somehow there’s always someone there to help.”
Perfect planning for an extraordinary event
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how few people organise an event of this scale.
“Most people assume there’s a huge organising committee behind Dave Day, but the reality couldn’t be more different. It’s just the three of us, all working full-time jobs, fitting Dave Day into evenings and weekends.”
With Barrow BID overseeing the town’s operational planning and safety arrangements, the core organising team remains remarkably small.
“Between the three Dave Days we’ve welcomed well over 100,000 motorbikes and probably more than half a million spectators lining the route from London to Barrow. When people discover how few of us are actually behind it all, they’re genuinely amazed.”
Looking to the future
While Dave Day 3 marked the end of the large London to Barrow ride, it may not be the final chapter.
“There may well be anniversary rides in the future, because it’s clear how much Dave Day means to people.”
For now, the organisers are taking time to reflect on what has been achieved.
“Dave Day has exceeded anything we could ever have imagined. It has brought hundreds of thousands of people together, created lifelong memories, raised an incredible amount for charity and, most importantly, kept Dave’s spirit alive in exactly the way he would have wanted, through friendship, kindness, laughter, food, bikes and bringing people together.”
Although the final fundraising total is still being confirmed, every pound raised will continue supporting the charities that meant so much to Dave, ensuring that his legacy continues long after the engines have fallen silent.
There’s still time to support Dave Day and keep that fundraising total rising by visiting the official merchandising page and choosing from the great range of Dave Day gear.
English